Rotary engine



' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM, BEERENBEEG, 0E BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

ROTARY ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 351,957, dated November 2, 1886.

Application filed March 24, 1886.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be itknown that 1, WILLIAM BERRENBERG, of Boston, in the county of Suffolk, State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rotary Engines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved rotary steam-engine that is worked with expansion of Steam by a simple valve-motion, and that can be run at high speed, so as to be applicable for lathes, circular saws, &c., and similar purposes. I

The invention consists of a casing or shell .formed of intersecting cylinders, which are arranged sidewise of each other, one cylinder containing a rotary valve, while the other cylinder contains a notary piston of the same diameter as the rotary valve, said piston being provided at diametrically-opposite pointswith fixed abutments having hinged wings. The abutments and wings fit into corresponding recesses of the rotary valve, the recesses being connected by a diametrical steam channel,

- through which the steam is suppliedto the piston of the main cylinder. In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a vertical transverse section of my improved rotary steam-engine, taken on line 00 m,- Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section through the main cylinder on line 3/ 3 Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a plan of the engine.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

Referringto the drawings, A represents the casing or shell of my improved rotary steamengine, which casing is supported on a bedplate, B, and formed of two intersecting cylinders-a larger one,.A, for the steam-piston D, and a smaller one, A, for the rotary valve E.

The casing A is closed at the sides by heads A which are provided with stuffing-boxes for the driving-shaft O. The driving shaft 0 turns in bearings C at opposite sides of the casing A. A geanwheel, b, on the driving-shaft G, meshes with a gear-wheel, d, of the same size on the shaft E of the rotary valve E, so that the same is rotated at the same speed as the piston D. The piston D is provided with fixed abutments D at diametrically-opposite points, which abutments are provided with segmental Serial No. 196,315. (No model.)

' wingsD that are hinged at one end to the abutments D, as shown in Fig. 1. The wings D are beveled at their under side and at the side opposite the wings connection with the abutments D, so as to facilitate the entering of the steam between the abutments and wings, andforce the lat er inoutward direction into tight contact M the interior surface of the main cylinder The abutments D .and wings D project beyond the circumference of the piston D, and fit into recesses a e at diametrically-opposite points of the rotary valve E, said recesses being connected by a diametrical channel, ei

The live steam enters through an inlet-port, f, of the valve-chest A that is arranged at right angles to a horizontal plane passing through the axes of the shafts O and E, and passes through the center channel, 0, when one of the recesses e is moving across the inlet-port f. .The live steam acts then on the abutment D and hinged wing D, and imparts rotary motion to the piston until-the steam is shut off as the recess a arrives at the abutment formed at the intersection of the cylinders A A, as shown in Fig. 1. In this position the steam works expansively on the wing D of the piston until said wing arrives at the eXhaust-portf of the casing, which exhaust-port is located in line with the axes of the shafts O E. A recess, at the lower part of the steam'chest A serves for permitting the steam topass to the main cylinder A until the steam is shut ofl'. This recess 9 is necessary, as otherwise the lower part of the steamohest would shut off the steam. The intermediate positions of the rotary valve E and piston D are shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, and illustrate the position of the valve and piston at the moment when the expansive action of the steam commences. As soon as one abutment D of the piston has passed the exhaust-port, the otheris in a position to be acted upon again by the live steam, and so on, whereby continuous rotary motion is imparted to the piston D and driving-shaft O. The steam entering between the abutments and the hinged wings presses the latter tightly against the inner surface of the steam-cylinder, and keeps thereby the wings steam-packed without requiring any other packing. By the gradual wear at the outer side of the wings the outward motion of the same increases until the wings are entirely worn off, when they are replaced by detaching their hinge pintles from the abutments and replacing them with new wings.

The sides of the rotary valve and piston are tightly packed by a suitable metallic or other packing at one side of the same, or in any other approved manner.

My improved rotary steanrengine is of simple construction, can be readily kept tight, and can be run at high speed, so as to be specially adapted for machines in which high speed is required.

Having thus described my inventionl claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. The combination of a casing consisting of intersecting cylinders, a piston located in the main cylinder, abutments at diametrical points of the piston, segmental wings hinged to said abutments, a rotary valve havingthe same diameter as the piston, and provided with recesses at diametricallyopposite points fitting on the abutnients and wings, and a diametrical steam channel connecting said recesses, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of a casing consisting of a larger main cylinder and a smaller steamchest, and having an inletport and an exhaustport, a piston located in the main cylinder, abutments at diametrical points of the piston, segmental wings hinged to said abutments, a

rotary valve of the same size as the piston .35

located in the valve-chest and provided with recesses corresponding to the projecting abutments and wings, a diametrical channel connecting the recesses of the slide-valve, and

gearing by which rotary motion is transmitted from the main shaft to the shaft of the rotary valve, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination of a casing formed of a main cylinder and a smaller steam-chest, said steam'chest having a segmental recess at the lower part, a piston located in the main cylinder, abutments at diametrical points of the piston, segmental wings hinged to the abutments and provided with beveled under sides,

a rotary valve in the steam-chest, having re eesses fitting over the abutments and wings, a steam supply channel connecting said rccesses, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my' invention I have signed my name in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

'WILLTAM BERRENBERG. Witnesses:

PAUL GoErEL, Smxnr BIANN. 

